TheVegucator
The Missing Ingredient
Bridging Medicine’s Nutrition Gap By Dawn Hilton-Williams
I
Scan the QR code below to view the recipe for Mac and Cheese by chef Dawn Hilton-Williams.
n a country where plates have become battlegrounds for health, a little-known truth has emerged. Doctors who represent our front line of defense against disease and its progression, are often unarmed when it comes to nutritional knowledge. Far from a small gap in medical education, the space represents a gaping divide that swallows the health of millions, especially in black and brown communities. A 2015 study shows that only 29% of medical schools meet the minimum recommendation of 25 hours of nutrition education set by the National Academy of Sciences. On average, medical students receive only 19.6 hours of nutrition instruction throughout their entire four-year program, but even this limited education focuses on biochemistry not practical dietary advice or food-related decision-making. This disconnect between medical education and the root causes of our top chronic diseases couldn’t be more apparent.
schools requiring none, Dr. David Eisenberg from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health calls this “a scandal” and “outrageous.” Physicians see patients who seek both medical and nutritional advice every day. Patients assume doctors are well-versed in nutrition, given their medical training, but approximately 8 of out 10 times this assumption would be wrong. This creates immense pressure on physicians who often share personal dietary preferences rather than evidence-based nutritional advice, potentially missing opportunities for more effective dietary interventions. We wouldn’t accept this kind advice from a mechanic about building a car, but we’re accustomed to accepting nutrition advice from our physicians.
The perfect storm
The consequences of this knowledge gap is particularly devastating in our communities, as we’re already faced with systemic barriers to optimal wellness. For example, African Americans are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites. When combined with a lack of evidencedriven nutritional guidance, this creates a perfect storm for even greater health disparities to persist, which highlights a pressing need for medical education reform to better equip our beloved doctors with the kind of information they need.
Easy steps to wellness
Unfair pressure on physicians
With one-fifth of U.S. medical schools receiving less than 1% of total lecture hours and the remaining
12
Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com
As medical schools catch up with themselves, here are four easy steps you can take now: 1 Become a health detective: Ask your doctor about their nutrition point of view and specific nutrition training. If they don’t have the expertise to guide you, ask for a referral to a nutritionist or registered dietician,
preferably a whole food, plantbased (WFPB) one. 2 Turn your kitchen into a pharmacy: Every meal is an opportunity to heal from what is likely a largely uninformed and unhealthy relationship with food and nutrition. Fill your plate with a rainbow of minimally processed, plant-based protein as well as nutrient and mineral rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. 3 Rediscover your local roots: Foraging for health from drive-thrus, fast casuals, boxes and cans have prevented us from soliciting local farmers who’ve tilled soil, planted seeds and provide nutrient and protein rich bounty that helps us heal. 4 Become a lifelong learner: Websites like nutritionfacts.org, pcrm.org and powerisgiving.org offer a wealth of evidencebased resources, arming you with the best defense against health poverty. As patients become more aware of nutrition’s role in prevention, arrest and recovery, it’s important that we’re aware of U.S. medical training limitations and what we can do to reclaim vibrant health, which is our birthright.
The Vegucator’s prescription
Adorn your plate with nature’s bounty, move your body with joy, fill your children’s cups with evidence-based knowledge and nourish your spirit with purpose. P Dawn Hilton-Williams AKA the Vegucator, is a whole food, plantbased (WFPB) certified nutrition professional, wellness equity activist, founder and clinically endorsed author and vegan chef.